Biotechnology And Nutrition

Biotechnology and Nutrition documents the proceedings of the Third International Symposium Biotechnology and Nutrition jointly sponsored by the University of Maryland, the United States Department of Agriculture, and E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. The symposium was organized to provide a forum for nutritionists, molecular biologists, animal and plant biochemists, food scientists, policymakers, and others who will influence the improvement of nutrition through the application of biotechnology. The contributions made by researchers at the symposium are organized into five parts. Part I provides a broad consideration of human nutrition and the ability of biotechnology to improve nutrition. Part II presents studies on carbohydrate nutrition, including industry trends and nutritional issues for food uses of starch and human physiological responses to dietary fiber. Part III focuses on proteins, including studies on improving the nutritional quality of legume seed proteins and increasing the lysine content of maize. The studies in Part IV deal with vitamins and minerals, such as genetic improvement of vegetable carotene content and iron uptake and translocation in plants. Part V examines molecular approaches in the modification and production of edible oils.

Biotechnology and Nutrition documents the proceedings of the Third International Symposium Biotechnology and Nutrition jointly sponsored by the University of Maryland, the United States Department of Agriculture, and E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. The symposium was organized to provide a forum for nutritionists, molecular biologists, animal and plant biochemists, food scientists, policymakers, and others who will influence the improvement of nutrition through the application of biotechnology. The contributions made by researchers at the symposium are organized into five parts. Part I provides a broad consideration of human nutrition and the ability of biotechnology to improve nutrition. Part II presents studies on carbohydrate nutrition, including industry trends and nutritional issues for food uses of starch and human physiological responses to dietary fiber. Part III focuses on proteins, including studies on improving the nutritional quality of legume seed proteins and increasing the lysine content of maize. The studies in Part IV deal with vitamins and minerals, such as genetic improvement of vegetable carotene content and iron uptake and translocation in plants. Part V examines molecular approaches in the modification and production of edible oils.

Universities throughout the US and the rest of the world offer Food Biotechnology courses. However, until now, professors lacked a single, comprehensive text to present to their students. Introduction to Food Biotechnology describes, explains, and discusses biotechnology within the context of human nutrition, food production, and food processing. Written for undergraduate students in Food Science and Nutrition who do not have a background in molecular biology, it provides clear explanations of the broad range of topics that comprise the field of food biotechnology. Students will gain an understanding of the methods and rationales behind the genetic modification of plants and animals, as well as an appreciation of the associated risks to the environment and to public health. Introduction to Food Biotechnology examines cell culture, transgenic organisms, regulatory policy, safety issues, and consumer concerns. It covers microbial biotechnology in depth, emphasizing applications to the food industry and methods of large-scale cultivation of microbes and other cells. It also explores the potential of biotechnology to affect food security, risks, and other ethical problems. Biotechnology can be used as a tool within many disciplines, including food science, nutrition, dietetics, and agriculture. Using numerous examples, Introduction to Food Biotechnology lays a solid foundation in all areas of food biotechnology and provides a comprehensive review of the biological and chemical concepts that are important in each discipline. The book develops an understanding of the potential contributions of food biotechnology to the food industry, and towards improved food safety and public health.

Although encouraging people to eat more nutritiously can promote better health, most efforts by companies, health professionals, and even parents are disappointingly ineffective. Brian Wansink’s Marketing Nutrition focuses on why people eat the foods they do, and what can be done to improve their nutrition. Wansink argues that the true challenge in marketing nutrition lies in leveraging new tools of consumer psychology (which he specifically demonstrates) and by applying lessons from other products’ failures and successes. The key problem with marketing nutrition remains, after all, marketing.

There is a unique nutritional commonality developing in research relating to coronary heart disease and cancer. The primary aim of this conference was to provide a forum for the leading researchers, clinicians, educators and administrators in these two fields to present a program on heart disease and cancer which included a) the major historical milestones, b) the present areas of greatest interest in research and therapy, c) the latest nutritional, molecular, and biotechnological advances, and d) a perspective on the most promising areas for future research and therapy. Scientists have long contended that research marches on the feet of methodology. Thus there are numerous examples of research fields opening secondary to methodological advances. Some examples are: 1) thin layer and gas-liquid chromatography which, along with high pressure liquid chromatography have broadened the line of advances in lipid research and 2) peR and the resultant impact on molecular biological approaches to several fields of science. The organizers of this conference thought the time was propitious for bringing together knowledge on newer aspects of molecular biological research with current advances in the two major areas of degenerative disease--coronary heart disease and cancer. Our knowledge of these "killer diseases" has expanded greatly in the past few years and the advance has been catalyzed by use of an array of molecular biological techniques. Thanks to these, medical thinking in these areas is changing from considerations of treatment to strategies for prevention.

Food science draws from many disciplines such as biology, chemical engineering, and biochemistry in an attempt to better understand food processes and ultimately improve food products for the general public. As the stewards of the field, food scientists study the physical, microbiological, and chemical makeup of food. Food Biotechnology can be used as a tool within many disciplines including food science nutrition dietetics and agriculture. Food biotechnology uses what is known about plant science and genetics to improve the food we eat and how it is produced. The topic of food biotechnology continues to be complex and confusing and it is therefore important to identify the key factual messages and to state them clearly and concisely. Providing one or more supporting facts can then reinforce this knowledge. Food biotechnology is a process scientists use to enhance the production, nutritional value, safety, and taste of foods. It can also benefit the environment by improving crops so that they need fewer pesticides. The concept is not new: For centuries farmers have selectively bred plants to pass on desirable qualities. For example, our ancestors began by replanting only corn seeds from the highest yielding and best tasting corn they grew each year. This process selected desirable genes and fixed them by growing the seeds of the selected crop year after year. The presentation of food science principles begins with an introduction to food components evaluation of quality factors in food and water. The book contain information useful to the food engineers, chemists, biologists, ingredient suppliers, and other professionals involved in the food chain.

World-wide there are more overweight and obese people (1 billion) than there are malnourished (0.8 billion). Today the challenge lies not just in meeting basic nutritional needs, but providing additional protective ingredients to help prevent the major chronic diseases associated with obesity. Biotechnology has become an important tool in recent ye